India’s prominent business house Tata Group has gone one step closer to making iPhones in India. This became possible after the Indian corporate mogul bought Winstron Corp’s manufacturing unit.
In the latest developments, the Ratan Tata-led (Emeritus Chairman) Indian corporate Tata Electronics Private Limited acquired Winstron InfoComm Manufacturing India Private Limited for an estimated cost of $125 million. The news was shared by an Indian minister on Friday, October 27.
Via X (formerly Twitter), India’s Deputy Minister for Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that a Tata subsidiary will soon start producing iPhones in India. As per the minister, the devices from the factory will be shipped to both domestic and international markets.
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Apple sees India as an alternative to lower China reliance
In recent months, Apple has increased its foothold in the Indian markets. The US phone maker opened two Apple stores in India for the first time, while the company’s CEO Tim Cook is seen frequently making his trips to India. As the California giant seeks to transition away from its reliance on China as the sole giant manufacturing market, India is seen as the ideal option. But despite these moves, China still makes the majority of Apple devices, more particularly iPhones in China representing a whopping total of 95 percent. But Tata Group could prop up the figures.
The Tata deal aligns with India’s incentives to drive local production by bringing in foreign multinational electronic companies. P”M Modi Ji’s visionary PLI scheme has already propelled India into becoming a trusted and major hub for smartphone manufacturing and exports,” Chandrasekhar said. You may want to read: Chinese government bans iPhone use for officials citing security concerns
Tata has taken over the Wistron Corp factory in Karnataka and will start its iPhone operation soon. The conglomerate already makes iPhone chassis, and metalwork that fit on the back of the device, in its factory in Tamil Nadu.